Five development teams have been chosen to compete for a chance to help build the proposed Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project connecting West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, Metro officials announced Monday.

The proposed high-speed, high-capacity transit line would eventually connect with Los Angeles International Airport.

The development teams are ACS Infrastructure Development, LA SkyRail Express, Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners (Bechtel), Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners (Fengate) and Tutor Perini, Parsons & Plenary.

“I’m pleased that there has been such strong early private-sector interest in this game-changing transit project,” said Inglewood Mayor James Butts, chairman of the Metro board. “These firms have a substantial breadth of expertise in the United States and abroad.”

Up to two developer teams will be selected to provide design and engineering proposals to support development of the project and cost estimates, Metro officials said. Once project development is complete, developers will have an opportunity to offer to build, operate and maintain the line.

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project is funded in part by Measure M, the transportation sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2016. The total project will receive $9.5 billion in funding from Measure M and other local, state and federal sources.

The first phase of the transit line between the Valley and the Westside is envisioned to open in 2033, and the second phase to LAX is scheduled to open in 2057 under the current Measure M schedule. More information on the project can be found at www.metro.net/projects/sepulvedacorridor/.

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